Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-12-03
A TERRIBLE FIRE.
Nearly a Hundred Horses
Burned to Death
AT THE CLUB STABLES.
Inetficiency of the Water Supply
Thoroughly Exemplified-
Heavy Losses.

Heavy Losses.
Shortly after midnight, last night
one OF the most disastrous fires which
has ever happened here SO far as the
loss of animal life is concerned, broke
out in the Club Stables ON Los Angeles
street. AT that time, Il. NJ. Briggs oi
the HERALD was proceeding home
ward, and he saw the flames which
had just sprung into existence. NJ
alarm being turned in, he ran to the
police alon and notified Officer
Pete Reel who turned in the alarm ot
the fire and then sped to the scene.
The employees OF the stable had
scarcely awakened at this time, and
the cries OF the ninety horses which
were in the midst of the flames were
pitiful, and their efforts to break out
OF the burning building were terriable
to behold. The contents of the
back portion of the stables where
the horses were confined in stalls
were very inflammable and after the
first start the flames spread so rapidly
that there was no chance to even un-
loo-en tie animals when the en-
plovees awoke. Before the first en-
gine arrived all but five of the
nj y-six b es confined il the
stalls had succumbed to the flames
and were buried beneath the burning
mass OF hay, with which the loft had
been filed.
Five Of the horses had been I'M
fastened by one OF the employees, but
the spread Of the fire was so fast and
furious that he could manage tn reach
no more and had to abandon his
efforts or else be suttocated
himself. These five horses broke into
the streets and ran in different direc-
tons, but all were badly scorched, one
of them so badly that it fell after
reaching Spring street. Some of the
horses in their mad efforts to reach
the air endeavored to kick the sides of
the building down, but their efforts
were unsucce- -sful. BY the time the
first engine reached the fire it had
gained euch headway that there was
no chance to save any portion of the
stables, which belonged to Nick Co.
varrubias, and the buildings adjoining
were beginning to smoke. Before the
first stream of water was put on the
fire the building occupied by Habing
q Philips, California iron C, rnice-
makers, was in blaze, and then it
was discovered that but one engine
could get any water. Engine No. q
stood idle on Los Angeles street in
front OF the fire for wanl of water, and
it was not until the greatest
part of the danger OF q spread
had passed that it was re-
membered that there was zanja be-
hind the burning buildings, and
the engine set to work. 1t
was twenty-five minutes after the
fire was discovered before water was
pnt ON it. After Habing & Phillips,
Fruhling Bros. blacksmith shop
caught on fire and burned to the
ground. The building adjoining
caught, but by this time the water
was brought to the front and the
spread of the flames stopped. There
were in number about seventy-fve
valuable carriages in the forward por-
ton OF the stables and these were en-
tirely consumed, but most of the
harness and the books were saved.
Mr.. Covarrubias was very much eX-
cited over his loss, and when he
reached the spot was with difficulty
prevented from rushing into the
burning building, where he hoped to
save some portion of its contents.
Later on he was led away by two
friends, but he recovered his
self-possession and said that his
loss amounted to about $32 900,
and his insurance was only
$4,000, mostly in local companies.
The losses OF the adjoining buildings
could not be ascertained, as none of
the proprietors appeared on the scene,
and the hour was SO late. 1t was
stated, however, that the machinery
in both places was valued at several
thousand dollars, and the frame build
ings and tools about three thousand
dollars more. 1t was also stated
that the insurance on these was
only partial. In the excite
ment OF the fire it was Iumored
that the racer'Arrow had been burned,
but later on it was learned that he
had been taken to the race track. 1t
was also stated that two racers were
burned, but Mr.. Covarrubias said it
was not true. He had inside two
valuable colts, which he had not yet
uamed, and these were burned. A great
many of the horses and wagons
burned belonged to parties who
boarded them with Mr.. Covarrubias,
and the loss on these is not included
in the statement above, and will prob.
ably bring it up to about 100000 The
Sunset Telephone company lost two
horses. Levi Venus lost two horses
and buggies; H. M. McNee horse
and buggy, valued at $4,000.